1.31.2011

Boardwalk Hat

Hello Blog Friends!

Welcome to my first official post on our blog! I'm going to jump-in and unveil a new pattern of mine that I finally completed this evening. It's a quick knit cap in worsted weight yarn with a slightly wavy edge. A downloadable .pdf version of this pattern is available for free on ravelry.

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Boardwalk

by Elizabeth Pedersen

Yarn: Approximately 130 yards of worsted weight yarn. The pictured hats are both made from one skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted, 210 yards/100 grams (3.5 ounces), in colorways Stone Blue and Pearl.

Gauge: 20 sts and 27 rows per 4 inches in stockinette on US size 8 needles.

Needles: 16” size US 5, 16” size US 8, and one set double pointed needles size US 8.

Notions: Stitch marker(s), darning needle.

Abbreviations:

sts - stitches

k - knit

p - purl

yo - yarn over

ssk - slip 1 as if to knit, k1, psso

k2tog - knit 2 together

sl - slip as if to knit

psso/p2sso - pass slipped stitch(es) over

sl2tog - sl 2 sts together as if to k2tog

* * - repeat pattern within *s

Pattern: With smaller size circular needles cast on 90 stitches. Place stitch marker at beginning or row and join in the round, being careful not to twist work.

Increase Row: Switch to larger size 16” circular needles by knitting one row, increasing one stitch (M1L) after every 15th stitch (M1L - lift the bar between stitches with the tip of the lefthand needle from the front, then knit the back the of the bar you have lifted, like knitting through the back loop of a stitch). Six stitches increased for a total of 96 sts.

Begin Section A: Follow either the Chart or the written instructions. The sixteen stitches in row one are repeated six times around, working all stitches. Repeat whichever row of the patern that you are currently working in this manner. Repeat all eight rows of Section A four times, for a total of 32 patterned rows.

Legend:

Section A - Chart

Section A - Written

Row 1: *k1, yo, k3, ssk, k5, k2tog, k3, yo*

Rows 2, 4, 6 & 8: knit

Row 3: *k2, yo, k3, ssk, k3, k2tog, k3, yo, k1*

Row 5: *k3, yo, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k2*

Row 7: *k4, yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k3*

Begin Section B: Please note that the center decrease in Section B is different than the decreases in Section A - see Legend for details. Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.

Section B - Chart

Section B - Written

Row 33: *k7, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k6*

Rows 34, 36, 38, 40 & 42: knit

Row 35: *k6, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k5*

Row 37: *k5, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k4*

Row 39: *k4, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k3*

Row 41: *k3, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k2*

Row 43: *k2, sl2tog, k1, p2sso, k1*

Row 44: *k1, sl2tog, k1, p2sso*

Row 45: *k2tog*

Finishing: After completing Section B there are 6 stitches remaining. Cut yarn leaving a 6” to 10” tail. With a darning needle run this tail through the remaining 6 stitches and cinch together. Weave in all ends and wash and block finished hat! If you wish to make a slouchier hat you can go up needle sizes for Sections A and B, and/or you can stretch the finished hat over a 9” plate while blocking.

I'm hoping you can help me out with a question I have regarding this pattern. This is the first thing I've knitted with a pattern like this. After knitting the first Section A I have only 14 stitches on my needle. Is that right? How then do I repeat section A three more times if I will go down two stitches each time? What am I doing wrong? Please help! :)